Ron Maund's long-time foreman Neville Saunders is hoping to make a name for himself in his own right after recently being granted a trainer's licence.Saunders, who was in charge of former glamour filly Gold Edition in many of her memorable interstate victories, will saddle up his first Brisbane metropolitan runner, Brujita, in Saturday's CE Property Services Group Hcp (1110m) at Doomben.The 55-year-old spent more than 30 years working for Maund, first as an apprentice and then as foreman."I was

Ron Maund's long-time foreman Neville Saunders is hoping to make a name for himself in his own right after recently being granted a trainer's licence.

Saunders, who was in charge of former glamour filly Gold Edition in many of her memorable interstate victories, will saddle up his first Brisbane metropolitan runner, Brujita, in Saturday's CE Property Services Group Hcp (1110m) at Doomben.

The 55-year-old spent more than 30 years working for Maund, first as an apprentice and then as foreman.

"I was 14 and had just left school in Tasmania when I started working for Ron on weekends and on holidays," Saunders said.

"I soon became his apprentice and went with him when he decided to train in Victoria."

When Saunders' riding days were over he stayed on with Maund as foreman before eventually returning to train in Tasmania for two years.

"When my apprenticeship finished with Ron I went back to Tasmania to train for two years and then when I was about 27 I took six horses over to Adelaide," he said.

"I liked Adelaide so much I stayed there and trained for five years."

It was during his time in Adelaide he struck up an association with Len Smith who trained Skybeau who ran in five Melbourne Cups and five Adelaide Cups from 1996 to 2001.

"I broke-in Skybeau and he managed to finish third in one of his five Melbourne Cups and was runner-up twice in Adelaide Cups," he said.

Saunders' decision to train in Queensland for the first time was not prompted by Maund's recent 12-month disqualification imposed after Pelltro tested positive to hydrocortisone in a urine sample taken at the Sunshine Coast in March.

"I was always looking at training again but when Ron got disqualified it just forced my hand," he said.

Maund has appealed against the severity of his disqualification to the Racing Appeals Tribunal which heard the matter on Monday but reserved its decision.

Saunders was quick off the mark to register his first metropolitan winner since being granted a trainer's licence in Queensland when Sequallan won on the new cushion track at Toowoomba on July 11.

"I've been having a good run and I've already had three winners in the last fortnight," he said.

Saunders rated Gold Edition as the best horse he's been associated with in his career.

"A horse like her only comes around once in a lifetime and I'm honoured to have been involved with her," he said.

"I've known her owners Kevin and Tanith O'Brien for years. In fact, my first winner as an apprentice was Fighting Legend in 1970 which was their first winner."

Saunders is hopeful of a strong performance from the O'Brien-owned Brujita who scored a narrow victory over 1100 metres at Toowoomba last Saturday.

"Up to now she hasn't put many together but she's got barrier one this time and she should get a nice run," he said.